As I flew back home by plane one day in September 2014, I read an article in the Qantas magazine "Fast and fair?" questioning if fast fashion retailers can be sustainable, ethical and responsible.
H& M which is the world's second largest clothing retailer was on the journey to do just that. With 3300 stores in 54 countries, it had recently launched H & M Conscious Collection and some ethical initiatives to use more sustainable materials to improve the conditions of the people who make their clothes. They started this initiative in 2005.
I checked their website again. This is what they had to say about their sustainable practices today in 2015.
We want to make conscious choices in fashion desirable and easily accessible for as many people as possible. The right choice should be an easy and attractive one. Piece by piece this will reduce the impacts that fashion has on the planet.
Our aim is for all cotton in our range to come from more sustainable sources by 2020.
In general their strategies were for organic cotton, wool, linen, hemp, silk, leather, natural rubber, recycled polyester and polyamide, recycled plastic and the use of lyocell. I had to look this one up. In short it is made from trees and more sustainable than cotton. From it they produce:
TENCEL® which is a soft, lightweight form of lyocell that’s made from FSC™-certified eucalyptus. The process for turning the trees’ fibres into fabric is kind to the environment, and makes something that’s perfect for jersey, knits and woven fashion garments.MONOCEL® which is the same as TENCEL®, except that it’s made from FSC™-certified bamboo.
So the top key words here were SUSTAINABLE, ETHICAL and RESPONSIBLE.
So what does that mean for a new generation of learners in education. What can we learn from industry to apply to our own experience of creating textiles as well as being responsible, sustainable and ethical consumers.
Firstly, the Australian Curriculum addresses the issue of sustainability that is embedded in the curriculum.
Sustainability addresses the ongoing capacity of Earth to
maintain all life.
Sustainable patterns of living meet the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Actions to improve sustainability are both individual and collective endeavours
shared across local and global communities. They necessitate a renewed and
balanced approach to the way humans interact with each other and the
environment.
Education for sustainability develops the knowledge, skills,
values and world views necessary for people to act in ways that contribute to
more sustainable patterns of living. It enables individuals and communities to
reflect on ways of interpreting and engaging with the world. Sustainability education is futures-oriented,
focusing on protecting environments and creating a more ecologically and
socially just world through informed action. Actions that support more
sustainable patterns of living require consideration of environmental, social,
cultural and economic systems and their interdependence.For LEARNERS:
- Act - with knowledge about what is a sustainable for living and allow for the ongoing capacity of the Earth to maintain all life
- Act - with skills to put this knowledge into practical action. Do without compromise and consistently
- Act - with values that are supported by the community of the world as we work together
- Reflect - on the knowledge & skills as we engage and interpret sustainability for the world
- Interpret & Engage a big picture understanding of environmental, social, cultural and economic systems both locally and globally
- Critical enquiry learning opportunities for students to develop the knowledge of what constitutes sustainable living. This would consider cultural difference, particularly in Australia with indigenous and non indigenous ideas of different systems and their interdependence. eg Looking at sustainable practices in different communities, linking across the curriculum, researching textile developments and sustainable practices
- Developing reflective practices in students which would support learning across the curriculum and in their personal domain. eg drawing knowledge from ethical and fair trade companies
- Using sustainable practices within the classroom and learning environment
- Project work within the school to engage others in learning about sustainable practices
Interesting websites on sustainability for schools
Seed to table (ideas for food technology in Home Economics)
Learning & Teaching Sustainability: http://sustainability.edu.au/
Education for Sustainability: website which lists more websites on sustainability for research and activities to develop "knowledge" about sustainability. http://www.educationforsustainability.com.au/resources/useful-websites
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